Fixing oil disaster my responsibility, Obama says

[jberryhill]

the question is whether he should be applying his powers to find some method of stopping the link

That appears to be what the administration is doing. The relevant equipment and expertise is in the oil industry. There really isn't a government department designed to plug drilling accidents.

Among a laundry list of other things, the DOE has engaged independent experts to work with BP on the specific technical problems and approaches, but there seems to be some sort of unstated assumption by some that the federal government keeps around a bunch of uber-petroleum-engineers who have secret knowledge on how to address this leak that BP (and the other industry experts who have been tasked on this thing) lacks. It just isn't so. When Saddam Hussein left Kuwait's oil fields burning, it was not the US military or any other government agency under GHW Bush that was contracted to figure out how to put them out.

What's amusing is how the press went nuts when Jimmy Carter - an actual navy-trained nuclear engineer with relevant education and experience - went on-site during the Three Mile Island incident for a hands-on update. The popular notion was that he was "just a peanut farmer" instead of the Naval Academy officer in the nuclear navy which he was.

If by "applying his powers" you mean a wholesale seizure of BP, as if that would accomplish any useful purpose, I can recall how folks went bonkers over the bankruptcy restructuring of GM, its return to profitability, and early payoff of government loans which netted taxpayers a net plus on the deal.

On the left, there is a contingent that thinks a "solution" consists of lining up BP executives before a firing squad. However, BP supplies 2/3 of the fuel used by the US military.

If you actually want to know the day-by-day ops, they are posted here:

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse....c/2931/543771/

The president's powers are set forth in Article II of the Constitution. How that qualifies the president to "apply his powers" to "stop the leak" is quite the interesting puzzle.

[biggedon]

That is racist.

it's called being sarcastic, not racist

[Mike Cruz]

That is racist.

lol, you fail.

[Seraphim]

As soon as Chuck Norris bangs some chick missionary style just outside of Moscow, we can get this oil leak plugged from the other end.

"Hold it steady Chuck, we're lowering in the concrete now"

[CureCancer]

it's called being sarcastic, not racist

umm okay, still find it offensive.

[whitebark]

Wow John that was a great response - can you come to my new neighbourhood and explain that to the resident anti-Obama family? Anything short of him donning swim-trunks and a snorkel and swimming to the bottom with a pair of pliers doesn't seem to satiate some people. Oddly enough it seems to be the same people who thought Bush et al did a great job when New Orleans was sinking. Funny how that works.

[Raider]

They could of had "Top Kill" in there the same day, but they waited it out to try to extort our government to clean up their mess, it didn't happen so they finally decided to fix the situation themselves. What is really so hard to see here / understand?

What about "Top Kill" again?

It's no wonder nobody listens to you.

That appears to be what the administration is doing.

It wasn't what Obama and his administration were doing for nearly 2 weeks after the accident, How do you explain Obama's sudden interest in applying his powers to stopping the leak now?

Just how many gallons of crude oil leaking into the Gulf does it take to get this President to actually do something?

You would think the number of gallons or barrels would be relevant, but NOT with this President. With this President, it's all about POLL NUMBERS, Poll numbers is what drives this President to take action, not the NEED itself....

Just look at how many months it took Obama to send NEEDED troops to Afghanistan on Gen McChrystal's request, risking the lives of our troops who were already there... He didn't care too much them, so why should anyone think he would care about millons of gallons of crude oil spewing into the Gulf effecting States he cares nothing about?

This is the first real challenge this President has had since taking office and he blew it!

[carlton]

... The ONLY people to blame is BP. They are responsible for this situation, their greed is the number one suspect ...

This is true ... but only partly so. The real culprits, and greatest source of our problem, are those that stand in the way of domestic drilling in the U.S. Their resistance to onshore (ANWR) and shallow water drilling force us into the higher risk option of deep water drilling. Their resistance to nuclear power force us into heavy dependence on middle eastern oil. Yes BP are responsible, but moreso the root problem of excessive govt regulation and failure to pursue diverse energy alternatives.

[Mike Cruz]

This is true ... but only partly so. The real culprits, and greatest source of our problem, are those that stand in the way of domestic drilling in the U.S. Their resistance to onshore (ANWR) and shallow water drilling force us into the higher risk option of deep water drilling. Their resistance to nuclear power force us into heavy dependence on middle eastern oil. Yes BP are responsible, but moreso the root problem of excessive govt regulation and failure to pursue diverse energy alternatives.

Excessive Government regulation? Or lack of it? Every President before and current should of enforced a law requiring the Safety valves to be installed every 500 ft. It could of prevented 11 deaths and millions of barrels of oil from leaking into our waters.

I am still baffled at the idiots defending BP, Haliburton and the alike. Billion dollar corporations too greedy to spend approx $5,000,000 to protect their employee's and our waters.

[500,000]

...

[biggedon]

The Obama Admin is not doing anything about the problems the oil spill is causing so when enough get really mad, Obama can prosecute and take over the company BP and then re-name it Obama Oil

i doubt it will be called obama oil

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUST...type=ousivMolt

[Raider]

Every President before and current should of enforced a law requiring the Safety valves to be installed every 500 ft. It could of prevented 11 deaths and millions of barrels of oil from leaking into our waters.

This is interesting, How does one enforce a law that hasn't been created yet?

And for someone like yourself who is OPPOSED to enforcing existing Federal Immigration laws, your the last person who should be dispensing advise on enforcing any law.

[James Jean]

Another Raider anti-Obama Pro-Bush post... I wish there was an easily accessible ignore button for vB.

[Raider]

Another Raider anti-Obama Pro-Bush post... I wish there was an easily accessible ignore button for vB.

Pro-Bush? Instead of wishing for the ignore button, you should wish for the ability to read.

[James Jean]

Maybe you should go read some of your past post fiscal conservative Raider. After all these years you stay posting crap on this forum reaffirming your ignorance and inability to engage in any meaningful discourse... thanks I dragger... found it.

IGNORED!!!~

[Mike Cruz]

This is interesting, How does one enforce a law that hasn't been created yet?

And for someone like yourself who is OPPOSED to enforcing existing Federal Immigration laws, your the last person who should be dispensing advise on enforcing any law.

Lol, you really are dumb. Tell others to read, but you fail to acknowledge and see past very obvious conclusions.

Spell the shit out for this lady or shes dumb founded.

[Raider]

Spell the shit out for this lady or shes dumb founded.

I think you spelled it out quite well right here;

Every President before and current should of enforced a law requiring the Safety valves to be installed every 500 ft. It could of prevented 11 deaths and millions of barrels of oil from leaking into our waters.

Every President should of enforced a Law that doesn't exist... Amazing, at least your stupidity is genuine.

One thing I don't understand about you Mikey, why do you even get up in the morning?



---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------

IGNORED!!!

Good!

Now you can spend more of your time thinking of another user name;

-X-
Foxo
BostonDomainer

May I suggest; "Ox Hole"?